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Meatball Sliders

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This Meatball Sliders recipe is a huge hit with the kids and ready to go in under an hour! Try this delicious Meatball Sliders recipe today!

Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by Thrive Algae Oil. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

At every get together growing up, my aunt would make these delicious homemade meatballs. It was one of the ways my mother could guarantee that I was going to get protein into my body on a busy day with family. They were amazing and it’s always one of the first recipes that I learned how to make. To this day, I still make them and I still love them.

But today, making them means something more. Today, the memories I hope to have with my beloved family recipe, is not my own, but rather, exciting memories of family favorite recipes into my own children. Luckily, I’ve succeeded with this recipe.  Both of our girls love these meatballs. So much so that they ask for seconds.

A New Spin on a Family Favorite

Meatballs are great by themselves (obviously) or put on top or rice or onto a roll. However, meatballs subs are hard for little kids to eat and putting on top of rice isn’t easy when you’re on the move (especially if you have to eat in the car). Today, we’re transforming our family favorite meatballs into a delicious and fun recipe for the whole family – Meatball Sliders! Not only are they a family friendly recipe, but it’s a crowd please and easy to eat on the run. Try them for your next get together or upcoming sports night!

How to Make Meatball Sliders

We start with the basics of our homemade meatball recipe. If you don’t have time, feel free to use large store bought meatballs. Once you form the ingredients into meatballs, then it’s time to get them cooking. We’ve opted to cook the meatballs in New! Thrive Algae Oil. Once the meatballs are cooked, we add spaghetti sauce to the skillet and cook for a few more minutes. Once that sauce is well incorporated with the meatballs, we start making our meatball sliders. We layer mozzarella cheese on top of slider buns with a little more sauce and one meatball. Once layered, we brush an herbed butter mixture on top of the buns and then cook for 12 minutes.  Then done! Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

What is Thrive Algae Oil?

I know you guys caught that little tidbit in how to make them and your first thought was what is Algae Oil!? Luckily, I’m here to tell you today! Thrive® Algae Oil is an everyday cooking oil that is made from algae and has the highest level of monounsaturated fat (the good fat!) compared to any other cooking oil available. Plus, it has the lowest level of saturated fats (the bad ones!). Swapping out sources of saturated fat for sources of monounsaturated fat, such as Thrive, helps maintain heart health. Additionally, it has a super high smoke point of up to 485 degrees, so you can really turn up the heat.  And lastly, taste. I know you’re all wondering about this. Thrive® Algae Oil actually is a very light, neutral oil, so the food really shines without taking on the taste of the oil.

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Meatball Sliders
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 
This Meatball Sliders recipe is a huge hit with the kids and ready to go in under an hour! Try this delicious Meatball Sliders recipe today!
Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 18 sliders
Calories: 173 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 homemade meatball recipe* (only the first 9 ingredients)
  • 2 tbsp Thrive Algae Oil
  • 1.5 cups spaghetti sauce
  • 18 slider buns
  • 9 slices mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tsp italian seasoning
Instructions

  1. Prepare homemade meatballs according to instructions. 

  2. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.

  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

  4. In batches, cook meatballs, making sure not to overcrowd, for 10-12 minutes or until browned on all sides and cooked through. Stir frequently so not to burn. *Add more Thrive Algae Oil between batches if necessary.

  5. Once all the meatballs are cooked, add them back into the skillet with spaghetti sauce. 

  6. Cook for 3-5 more minutes. Then, remove from heat. 

  7. On your slider buns, place a quarter slice of cheese on the bottom, then a little bit of sauce from your skillet, one meatball, a little more sauce, another quarter slice of cheese and the top of the bun. *Use toothpicks to hold together if not staying together.

  8. Place on baking sheet and Repeat with remaining sliders. 

  9. Mix together the melted butter and Italian seasoning and brush mixture across the tops of meatball sliders

  10. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown on top.

  11. Serve

Recipe Notes

*Homemade meatball recipe can be swapped out for store bought meatballs. Look for meatballs at least 2" in diameter. Prepare according to directions.

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

Nutrition Facts
Meatball Sliders
Amount Per Serving (1 slider)
Calories 173 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 18mg 6%
Sodium 196mg 8%
Potassium 80mg 2%
Total Carbohydrates 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 3g
Protein 6g 12%
Vitamin A 5.3%
Vitamin C 1.7%
Calcium 10.1%
Iron 6.6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Try Thrive® Algae Oil for yourself!  If you are in an ACME market, today, Friday, June 1-June 4 2018 you can try it at an in-store tasting throughout New Jersey and the greater Philadelphia area. Exact dates vary by locations, so contact your local ACME for more information on tastings local to you!

For more information, you can visit Thrive’s website, or check them out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube!

 

 

Almond Butter Protein Pancakes

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These Almond Butter Protein Pancakes are the perfect breakfast when fueling up for adventures, a long day of swimming, or a great workout. 

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StartAHealthyRelationship #CollectiveBias

Whether you do crossfit, plan to go swimming for the entire day, or have a long hike ahead of you, you need energy. And that energy comes from the ingredients you put into your body. I didn’t use to be great at getting the proper nutrients into my body before a long day. However, now that I have kids, and seem to be more on the go now than when I was little, I’ve learned to be better. When we know we are going to have long days, we love to start with a protein packed breakfast like these Almond Butter Protein Pancakes.

We love MaraNatha Almond Butter that you can find at your local Walmart store. The richness from the almond butter makes the flavor of these protein pancakes really pop to give you the flavor you crave in the morning.  For this recipe we use the MaraNatha Creamy No Stir Almond Butter. MaraNatha picks only the best heart-healthy California almonds, then roasts and double-grinds them to a delicious, creamy, velvery smoothness. The process makes it super spreadable.
We also love that there’s a MaraNatha No Salt or Sugar Added Almond Butter. No additives in here, just the perfect taste of almonds!

It’s the perfect choices of nut-lovers who love an active, healthy lifestyle. You can easily pair MaraNatha almond butters with fruit when you’re on the run too. Grab MaraNatha at your local Walmart or hover over the image below to shop online.

 

Almond Butter Protein Pancakes

These delicious almond butter protein pancakes will have you fueled up for your next adventures. We start with oat flour, add bananas, MaraNatha Creamy No Stir Almond Butter, and a few other ingredients for one of the best breakfasts you’ve had in a long time. Get even more protein in when you spread MaraNatha on top of the pancakes instead of or with maple syrup.

Earn up to $2 back with Ibotta! 

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Almong Butter Protein Pancakes
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Resting Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

These Almond Butter Protein Pancakes are the perfect breakfast when fueling up for adventures, a long day of swimming, or a great workout. 

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: protein pancakes
Servings: 6 pancakes
Calories: 416 kcal
Author: Andrew
Ingredients
  • 1 cup oat flour
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup almond butter
  • 2 bananas, mashed
  • 4 eggs
  • coconut oil, divided
Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine oat flour*, baking powder, and cinnamon. 

  2. Add in almond butter, mashed bananas, and eggs. Mix with a blender, just until well combined. 

  3. Let batter sit for 10 minutes before using. 

  4. Heat a skillet with a small amount of coconut oil over medium. 

  5. Add 1/6 of the batter to a skillet, cook for 2-3 minutes on one side, flip and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until Cooked through. 

  6. Repeat with remaining batter. 

Recipe Notes

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

**If you do not have oat flour, you can make it by blending old fashioned oats until a flour consistency is achieved.

Nutrition Facts
Almong Butter Protein Pancakes
Amount Per Serving (1 pancake)
Calories 416 Calories from Fat 243
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 42%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 109mg 36%
Sodium 51mg 2%
Potassium 819mg 23%
Total Carbohydrates 31g 10%
Dietary Fiber 6g 24%
Sugars 6g
Protein 15g 30%
Vitamin A 3.7%
Vitamin C 4.1%
Calcium 28.4%
Iron 17.1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Grab off your local Walmart shelves today!

Cranberry Chocolate Energy Bars

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 These delicious no-bake Cranberry Chocolate Energy Bars will have you feeling satisfied and ready to go when you are on the move this year!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Amazing Grass® Green Superfood® Original at Sam’s Club.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Spring is here and the weather is finally seeming to catch up to that memo. The weather has been gorgeous here this week (even with a few rain showers thrown in). This can only mean one thing: we will be out and about very quickly.  Sometimes it feels like as soon as spring weather finally hits, we are out and about often. The girls love being outside. Playing with friends and exploring new places we’ve never been. It also means that I need to be more aware of the food choices we have in our home.

Typically, when we are home often, we eat leftovers for lunch, or things like soup, mac n cheese, etc. However, when we are on the go I need quick meals and snacks that don’t need to be heated up. We love to do salads and sandwiches and for snacks, we love to do fruit and bars. When I was pregnant and then had a new baby, I love our lactation protein bars; however, now, I am loving these Cranberry Chocolate Energy Bars.

Getting more nutrients into your kids

I know with our kids, that if you give them something handheld, made from what appears to be chocolate and tastes even remotely decent, then will devour it. Well, these cranberry chocolate energy bars taste better than decent! They are great! They are packed full of great ingredients like nuts, flaxseed, and Amazing Grass® Green Superfood® Original.

Amazing Grass is a simple way to add greens and get quality nutrients into both your own body and that of your children. With just one scoop, you get to Feel Amazing Everyday™. Amazing Grass is packed with organic greens, fruit, and vegetables. What this does is provide you with natural energy, help your immunity and digestion system, and promote detox to maintain your best health.

You can find Amazing Grass at your local Sam’s Club. And between May 10 – June 4, Sam’s Club is offering a $4.00 savings on every tub of Amazing Grass Green Superfood purchases either in-store or online. There’s also an in-club demo May 19, 2018 at Sam’s Club, so make sure you head out there and taste it for yourself.

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Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1.5 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup cashew butter (other nut butters would also work)
  • 3/4 cup unsalted almonds, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup cashews, roughly chopped
  • 1/3 cup raw honey
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/3 cup ground flaxseed
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cacao powder
  • 4 scoops Amazing Grass® Green Superfood®
Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together until very well combined. 

  2. Line a 13x9 pan with wax paper.

  3. Spread the mixture across the pan and press down ensuring one even layer. 


  4. Freeze for 3 hours or overnight. 

  5. Cut into desired size bars (we do 12). 

  6. Leave in freezer until ready to eat. When ready, remove one at least 30 minutes before wanting to eat. 

PIN THESE CRANBERRY CHOCOLATE ENERGY BARS FOR LATER!

 

 This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Amazing Grass® Green Superfood® Original.

Ultimate Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese

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This Ultimate Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese sandwich recipe is the perfect lunch or dinner sandwich for the whole family! Stack it super high or make a smaller version for the best grilled cheese recipe!

I can’t really pinpoint an exact time that I fell in love with pulled pork, but as a mom, it’s one of my favorite meals.  We alternate between pulled pork and pulled chicken, so feel free to substitute either of these meats in this recipe. We make a slow cooker pulled pork recipe with our homemade BBQ sauce which is one reason I love it so much.

My time as a mom, is limited. Even as a stay-at-home mom, I work from home and I homeschool, so we have a lot going on every day.  I’m constantly on the go and making lists and being able to throw dinner in the crockpot in the morning in under 10 minutes and have it ready at dinner, is a HUGE win for me.

Making a Gourmet Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese

Our gourmet pulled pork grilled cheese sandwich has a large combination of toppings. Think of this as a recipe that you would see served at a fun restaurant. Together, this sandwich works magically together. However, we understand that this may be unrealistic or to large for most people (especially littles).  Feel free to alter it however you need.

What toppings go on an ultimate pulled pork grilled cheese: 

  • pulled pork
  • mac and cheese
  • onion rings
  • bacon
  • ham
  • pineapple
  • lettuce
  • smoked gouda slices
  • cream cheese

Clearly, once you start piling these toppings on, you have a giant sandwich. It’s fun to eat though! You can make homemade pulled pork by following our homemade pulled chicken recipe and just sub the chicken for the same amount of pork tenderloin. Use your favorite mac and cheese recipe and then layer everything else between two slices of cooked, garlic texas toast. After that, throw in a skillet with a pat of melted butter and grilled until golden brown on both sides! Voila! Perfect pulled pork grilled cheese sandwich!

Best Side Dishes for Pulled Pork

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Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

This Ultimate Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese sandwich recipe is the perfect lunch or dinner sandwich for the whole family! Stack it super high or make a smaller version for the best grilled cheese recipe!

Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 sandwiches
Calories: 1162 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 8 slices texas toast, cooked
  • 2 cups pulled pork, cooked
  • 8 onion rings, cooked
  • 1 cup mac and cheese, cooked
  • 4 slices bacon, cooked
  • 8 slices ham, thinly sliced
  • 4 slices fresh pineapple
  • 1/4 cup spring mix lettuce
  • 8 slices smoked gouda cheese
  • 2 oz cream cheese
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • Homemade BBQ Sauce, optional
Instructions

  1. On one slice of texas toast layer 1/2 cup pulled pork, 2 onion rings, 1/4 cup mac and cheese, 1 slice bacon, broken in half, 2 slices ham, 1 slice pineapple, 1/4 of the lettuce, 2 slices of smoked gouda, 1/4 oz of cream cheese. Top with another slice of texas toast. 

  2. In a skillet, over medium heat, melt 1/2 tbsp of butter. 

  3. Place sandwich in melted butter for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown. 

  4. Carefully flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes. 

  5. Remove from heat and repeat with remaining sandwiches.

Recipe Notes

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

Nutrition Facts
Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese
Amount Per Serving (1 sandwich)
Calories 1162 Calories from Fat 630
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 70g 108%
Saturated Fat 29g 145%
Cholesterol 201mg 67%
Sodium 2218mg 92%
Potassium 808mg 23%
Total Carbohydrates 71g 24%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars 14g
Protein 63g 126%
Vitamin A 15.1%
Vitamin C 48.7%
Calcium 53.1%
Iron 81.8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese for Later!   

Monte Cristo Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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Our Monte Cristo Grilled Cheese Sandwich is a fun play on a traditional french Monte Cristo recipe. Try this delicious monte cristo sandwich and tell us if it’s not one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches you’ve had.  

The first time I ever saw a Monte Cristo sandwich, I was with my sister. We were at a restaurant together when she ordered one and when it came out, I was confused. There was meat and cheese on her sandwich but it was topped with powdered sugar and she told me the sauce was raspberry. After the disgusted look on my face, she made me try it anyway. It was in that moment that I learned the amazingness that is a monte cristo sandwich.

I knew when we were creating our grilled cheese sandwich series that a monte cristo grilled cheese sandwich had to be one of them. It’s such a fun recipe for the entire family. The kids think it’s amazing that we give them powdered sugar on a sandwich. I think the first time we made them, the girls lost we had gone off our rockers.

What is a Monte Cristo Sandwich?

Before we get into our monte cristo grilled cheese sandwich, let’s first discuss what is a monte cristo sandwich. A classic Monte cristo recipe is a fried ham and cheese sandwich.  It was a play on the French croque-monsieur which is a baked ham and cheese sandwich. Some people now use other meats in addition to the ham and it may or may not be fried.  It’s topped with powdered sugar and served with a raspberry sauce.

What sides do you serve with a Monte Cristo Grilled Cheese sandwich?

How to make a Monte Cristo Grilled Cheese sandwich?

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Monte Cristo Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
7 mins
Total Time
12 mins
 

Our Monte Cristo Grilled Cheese Sandwich is a fun play on a traditional french Monte Cristo recipe. Try this delicious monte cristo sandwich and tell us if it's not one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches you've had.  

Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, French
Servings: 4 sandwiches
Calories: 901 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 8 slices french toast brioche bread
  • 8 slices Smoked Gouda Cheese
  • 4 slices Swiss Cheese
  • 1 lb smoked ham slices (deli meat)
  • 1/2 lb smoked turkey slices (deli meat)
  • 1 pint fresh raspberries, optional
  • raspberry sauce, optional
  • powdered sugar, optional
Instructions

  1. Using previously cooked french toast bread, butter one side of each of the pieces. 

  2. Heat skillet to medium low. 

  3. Place one slice of bread, butter side down into the pan. 

  4. Layer 2 slices of gouda, 1 slice of Swiss, 1/4 lb of ham and 1/8 lb of turkey slices between two pieces of bread.  Add optional fresh raspberries in layers if desired. 

  5. Place another slice of bread on the top, butter side up. 

  6. Cook for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Flip. 

  7. Cook for another 1-2 minutes or until that side is also golden brown. 

  8. Remove and repeat with remaining sandwiches. 

  9. Top with powdered sugar and serve with raspberry sauce if desired. 

Recipe Notes

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

Nutrition Facts
Monte Cristo Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Amount Per Serving (1 sandwich)
Calories 901 Calories from Fat 477
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 53g 82%
Saturated Fat 30g 150%
Cholesterol 312mg 104%
Sodium 2288mg 95%
Potassium 666mg 19%
Total Carbohydrates 49g 16%
Dietary Fiber 7g 28%
Sugars 7g
Protein 59g 118%
Vitamin A 28.2%
Vitamin C 37.6%
Calcium 72.7%
Iron 19.6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

PIN THIS MONTE CRISTO GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH FOR LATER!

 

Philly Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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Combine the best of Philly into one ultimate sandwich! A Philly Cheesesteak and a Philly Soft Pretzel collide to create the best Philly cheesesteak recipe – the Philly Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese Sandwich!

Growing up, we had cheesesteaks occasionally.  My dad would pull out these frozen sheets of meats and quickly whip them up until something delicious came of it. Or so I thought at the time. I always thought they were yummy, but I never got the hype of “The Philly Cheesesteak”. I mean…Don’t get me wrong, they’re good, but not something that you have to be known for if you’re one of the biggest cities in the country.

Then…I  moved…

A few years ago, Andrew and I moved to New Jersey. Well, he moved back, I moved here for the first time. One of the first places we explored together was South Street in Philly. He took me to Jim’s and it wasn’t until that moment that I got the hype. What I had grown up used to as a Philly Cheesesteak was NOTHING in comparison to the real thing.

Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches are now a favorite in our home, not only for Andrew and I, but for our children as well. We knew when we were discussing our grilled cheese sandwich series that we had to do a spin on a Philly Cheesesteak. In our opinion, this may be the best Philly cheesesteak recipe that you can make at home. It’s such a fun spin on a family favorite! The entire family will love this Philly Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese sandwich.

What are the ingredients on a Philly Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese?

We wanted to combine two Philly favorites – the Philly Cheesesteak and the Philly Pretzel to create this insanely delicious Philly Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese sandwich. We use a pretzel hot dog bun that we found at our local Amish market for the bun. It resembles a traditional cheesesteak bun, with the same delicious taste of a Philly pretzel. If you can’t find buns locally to you, then you can create your own pretzel buns at home or slice a soft pretzel in half for a close alternative.

Then, we seared up onions and ribeye steak in the traditional Philly way, added grilled red, green, and yellow peppers, and finally used both provolone and American cheese.  We skipped the whiz, but if you are a whiz traditionalist, feel free to add it to your Philly Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese sandwich!

What are good sides dishes for Philly Cheesesteaks?

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Philly Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

Combine the best of Philly into one ultimate sandwich! A Philly Cheesesteak and a Philly Soft Pretzel collide to create the best Philly cheesesteak recipe - the Philly Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese Sandwich!

Course: Lunch, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 650 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 lb ribeye steak, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 green pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 red pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 yellow pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
  • 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
  • 4 slices Provolone cheese
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 pretzel buns (or other bun)
Instructions

  1. Season thinly slice ribeye with garlic powder, black pepper, and smoked paprika. 

  2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet. 

  3. Add onions and peppers and saute for 3-5 minutes of until onions are translucent. 

  4. Remove from skillet and place on a plate. Set aside. 

  5. In the same skillet, head remaining oil. 

  6. Add the seasoned ribeye.

  7. Cook for 2-3 minutes, chopping up along the way. 

  8. Season with salt if desired. 

  9. Flip and Cook another 2-3 minutes or until steak is cooked through. 

  10. Add the onions and peppers back to the skillet and combine well. 

  11. Remove from heat. 

  12. Spread butter on inside of both sides of buns. 

  13. Place face down in skillet for approximately two minutes or until golden brown.

  14. Layer each sandwich with two slices of cheddar and one slice of Provolone, along with 1/4 of the meat mixture. 

  15. Repeat with remaining sandwiches. 

  16. Preheat oven to 300 degrees and bake sandwiches for 7-10 minutes or until cheese is melted. 

  17. Serve!

Recipe Notes

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

*Top round steaks can be used in place of ribeye. Or if necessary you can use the frozen steak sheets in your grocery freezer section as a last resort. 

*Ask butcher to thinly slice your meat. 

Nutrition Facts
Philly Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Amount Per Serving (1 sandwich)
Calories 650 Calories from Fat 441
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 49g 75%
Saturated Fat 24g 120%
Cholesterol 147mg 49%
Sodium 674mg 28%
Potassium 535mg 15%
Total Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 2g
Protein 44g 88%
Vitamin A 28.7%
Vitamin C 73.1%
Calcium 63%
Iron 16.1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Philly Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese Recipe for later!

Chicken and Waffles Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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This chicken and waffles grilled cheese sandwich is the ultimate chicken and waffles sandwich. No matter, if you’ve had the infamous chicken and waffles (with hot sauce or gravy depending on your location), you’ll want to dive into this grilled cheese sandwich immediately! 

It’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese Week here on our site and we know you are ready for more deliciousness.  We are so excited to jump right into giving you another mouthwatering grilled cheese recipe too.  Today, we present the chicken and waffles grilled cheese recipe.

Now, depending on where you live, you may have chicken and waffles served with hot sauce, or a spicy syrup, or you may have it served with mashed potatoes and gravy. Either way you prefer it, it’s all delicious.  And, if you’re on the fence about trying it, just stop.

Chicken and Waffles may sound like an odd combination, but really it’s not. Sweet bread and deliciously fried chicken go hand in hand. Even syrup drizzled across the chicken is a delicious idea…I PROMISE…I would never lie to you guys.

HOW TO MAKE A CHICKEN AND WAFFLES GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH RECIPE

This chicken and waffles grilled cheese recipe takes two Belgian waffles (we use this waffle maker) and cooks them in a skillet with butter for a few minutes. Then, in between them layers a copious amount of mozzarella cheese, fried chicken tenders, crispy bacon, lettuce, and our own honey mustard BBQ sauce. Once layered, we put this grilled cheese in the oven and bake until it’s all warm and has melty, gooey, cheese. After that, you want to cut it in half down the middle, making two sandwiches. Serve alongside maple syrup for dipping. It was so delicious and a must try for everyone.

What is a good side dish for chicken and waffles?

While we believe that this grilled cheese sandwich could be served entirely on it’s own, we know some may want some ideas for sides that would be great on this!

No matter what you decide to serve alongside it, this is one of the best grilled cheese recipes that you are going to find around.

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Chicken and Waffles Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

This chicken and waffles grilled cheese sandwich is the ultimate chicken and waffles sandwich. No matter, if you've had the infamous chicken and waffles (with hot sauce or gravy depending on your location), you'll want to dive into this grilled cheese sandwich immediately! 

Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 sandwiches
Calories: 1099 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 Belgian waffles
  • 4-5 chicken fingers, cooked
  • 1/2 cup shredded lettuce (or one large iceberg lettuce)
  • 4 slices bacon, cooked
  • 6 slices Mozzarella cheese
  • 1/8 cup Honey Mustard BBQ Sauce
  • syrup (optional)
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 

  2. Spread butter across one side of both of the waffles. Cook in a skillet over medium heat until that side is golden brown (2-3 minutes)

  3. Remove from heat and layer 3 slices of cheese, remaining ingredients, and remaining cheese. 

  4. Place sandwich on a baking sheet and place in oven for 7-10 minutes or until warmed and cheese is melted. 

  5. Remove from oven and slice in half to make 2 sandwiches. 

  6. Serve.

Recipe Notes

*Nutritional facts are only estimates.  Please use your own ingredients to get a more definite amount. Syrup not included in estimates. 

Nutrition Facts
Chicken and Waffles Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Amount Per Serving (1 half)
Calories 1099 Calories from Fat 567
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 63g 97%
Saturated Fat 27g 135%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 209mg 70%
Sodium 1577mg 66%
Potassium 682mg 19%
Total Carbohydrates 74g 25%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars 13g
Protein 55g 110%
Vitamin A 21.8%
Vitamin C 2.1%
Calcium 43.5%
Iron 5.8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Supreme Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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This Supreme Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich is everything that you want on a pizza in grilled cheese form! It’s the ultimate pizza sandwich recipe! 

Growing up we had a bowl of soup and a grilled cheese sandwich at least once a week. As a mom now, I get that it was a cheap meal. Because of the frequency of this meal, it became something I have fond memories of now. I love making grilled cheese sandwiches for my girls, even though we don’t have them as often as I did growing up.

After we created a peanut butter and jelly grilled cheese, Andrew and I had an idea to create a series about gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. This pizza grilled cheese is the first in a series of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches we’ll be doing and we guarantee that by the end of the week, you’ll discover one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches you’ve ever had.

How to Make a Supreme Pizza Grilled Cheese

This pizza grilled cheese sandwich has all of your favorite supreme pizza toppings. There’s sausage, pepperoni, and ham for meats. Then, for toppings, we included red onions, 5 types of peppers, spinach and mushrooms. Of course, there’s cheddar and mozzarella cheese, as well as marinara sauce.

We start by buttering up two skinny sandwich rounds and browning them in a skillet. Next, we layer all our ingredients and then put the grilled cheese in the oven until the cheese is melted. It cooks up beautifully and is so much fun.

The reason we cook the pizza grilled cheese in the oven versus all on the stove is because of the amount of ingredients.  It would be hard to get them all warm in a skillet before the bread burns, even when cooking on a low setting, so grilled cheese in the oven is the best option.

What sides to serve with a pizza grilled cheese sandwich?

This is a large sandwich by itself, but we know you’d love some side dish ideas for this grilled cheese recipe.

Any of these will pair perfectly with this pizza grilled cheese sandwich!

Pizza Grilled Cheese Recipe

5 from 2 votes
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Supreme Pizza Grilled Cheese
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

This Supreme Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich is everything that you want on a pizza in grilled cheese form! It's the ultimate pizza sandwich recipe! 

Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 2 sandwiches
Calories: 805 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 skinny sandwhich rounds
  • 1 italian sausage, cooked
  • 2 oz pepperoni, sliced thick or thin
  • 1/8 cup spinach
  • 1/8 cup mushroom slices
  • 1/4 red pepper, sliced into two rounds
  • 1/4 green pepper, sliced into two rounds
  • 1/4 yellow pepper, sliced into two rounds
  • 1/4 orange pepper, sliced into two rounds
  • 1/8 cup banana peppers
  • 4 slices Mozzarella cheese
  • 4 slices Cheddar cheese
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees

  2. Cut cooked sausage in half lengthwise and then in half again. Set aside. 

  3. Spread butter on one side of each of the skinny sandwich rounds.

  4. Heat a skillet over medium and brown the sandwich rounds butter side down until a golden brown is reached (2-3 minutes). Remove from here

  5. On the none buttered side, layer all your ingredients. 

  6. Repeat with remaining sandwich. 

  7. Place both sandwiches on an oven safe baking sheet and cook for 7-10 minutes or until cheese has completely melted and ingredients are warmed. 

  8. Remove and serve. 

Recipe Notes

*This recipe uses raw peppers and mushrooms for the sandwich, feel free to cook before hand if desired. 

*Nutritional values are estimates. Please double check your own products before using. 

Nutrition Facts
Supreme Pizza Grilled Cheese
Amount Per Serving (1 sandwich)
Calories 805 Calories from Fat 603
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 67g 103%
Saturated Fat 33g 165%
Cholesterol 191mg 64%
Sodium 1625mg 68%
Potassium 477mg 14%
Total Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 2g
Protein 42g 84%
Vitamin A 46.8%
Vitamin C 103.4%
Calcium 70.6%
Iron 9.7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Zesty Summer Pasta Salad

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This zesty summer pasta salad is the perfect dish to take to all your upcoming summer get-togethers and outings.  It’s a cold pasta salad with zesty Italian dressing and sure to be a big hit!  

Vegan Pasta Salad

There are certain recipes that will remind you of happier times. Like summers ago with your entire family around a grill, jumping in and out of the pool all day, and running around without a care in the world. It’s up to you whether your children will have those same magical memories now. Though it seems like a big feat at times, sometimes food elicits memories of what made it special. By focusing in on those memories, you can remember how to make it special for your own littles. 
This homemade pasta salad is one of those recipes for me. To me, it’s the best pasta salad because of those memories. It’s one very similar to what my aunt used to make at every single summer cookout we had. This easy pasta salad recipe is also one of the few ways my mom could get me to eat vegetables as a child. Since moving to New Jersey though, I see my family less, so I needed to learn to make this Italian pasta salad myself.
cold pasta salad recipe

How to make homemade Italian pasta salad 

For this delicious cold pasta salad recipe there’s just 5 ingredients + the Italian salad dressing. You can choose to buy bottled zesty Italian dressing or we share our zesty pasta salad dressing recipe below. For this vegan pasta salad you need cooked pasta (we use angel hair), cherry tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and zesty Italian dressing. 
The most difficult part of this entire dish is cooking the pasta for 8 minutes. So, if you can cook pasta, you can make this recipe. Add everything to a big bowl and stir, stir, stir, until everything is mixed together well. Refrigerate and done! It’s really that simple to make this summer pasta salad.
homemade summer pasta salad

Summer Pasta Salad Recipe 

0 from 0 votes
Print
Zesty Summer Pasta Salad
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
18 mins
 

This zesty summer pasta salad is the perfect dish to take to all your upcoming summer get-togethers and outings.  It's a cold pasta salad with zesty Italian dressing and sure to be a big hit!  

Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 16 people
Calories: 188 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 lb angel hair pasta
  • 2 cups homemade Zesty Italian Dressing (recipe below)
  • 1/2 cup carrots, grated (approximately 4-6 large carrots)
  • 1 1/2 cups broccoli, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups cauliflower, finely chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to the boxed instructions.

  2. Drain and transfer pasta to a large bowl. 

  3. Add remaining ingredients, except the tomatoes. 

  4. Stir until very well combined. 

  5. Add in the halved cherry tomatoes and give a quick toss (not too much, you don't want to over work the tomatoes). 

  6. Chill in the refrigerate at least 2 hours or until ready to serve. 

  7. Refrigerate any remaining pasta salad for up to 5 days. 

Recipe Notes

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad Dressing Recipe

In a large bottle or bowl, combine the following, shake or stir very well. Then, ready for use. Refrigerate any leftovers. 
  • 1 cup olive oil 
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • juice from half a lemon
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/8 cup red onion, finally chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Nutrition Facts
Zesty Summer Pasta Salad
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 188 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 9%
Sodium 305mg 13%
Potassium 222mg 6%
Total Carbohydrates 27g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 5g
Protein 4g 8%
Vitamin A 17.5%
Vitamin C 23.7%
Calcium 2.1%
Iron 4.2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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zesty italian summer pasta salad - cold pasta salad - vegan pasta salad
This post was originally published on 5/21/2014.  Same great recipe but our photography skills have greatly improved.  Here’s some of the original photos. 
cold pasta salad recipes from scratch
easy pasta salad
easy pasta salad recipe

Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadillas

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These dairy-free baked chicken quesadillas as so insanely delicious, they’ll have you forgetting that you’re even missing any dairy. Try out these delicious stuffed quesadillas today! 

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ProgressIsPerfection #CBias #CollectiveBias

Even though I loved dairy, when we had our first baby, Larisha had to go dairy free. Obviously, she wasn’t going to cook multiple meals when it was just her, I and a tiny newborn, so subsequently I went dairy free also. I was surprised how easy this little switch could be. I thought it was going to be miserable, but it was really quite simple. One of our favorite meals quickly became chicken, bean, and avocado quesadillas. Surprisingly, the avocado actually binds the tortilla shells together like cheese would do and it’s absolutely delicious!

How to make a dairy free baked chicken quesadilla?

First, we start by soaking the chicken in Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk for 30 minutes.  After that, we dredge the chicken in a combination of flour, bread crumbs, and taco seasoning. We then baked the chicken for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Then, it’s time to put the quesadilla together. The topping possibilities are endless, but the basic of this recipe is a 10″ tortilla, avocado, chicken, and black beans. Other toppings may include: salsa or tomatoes, jalapeños, corn, cilantro, onions, and more.

This one dairy-free recipe seriously made my transition to a healthier lifestyle of much easier! It’s a must have recipe. If you are also gluten-free, you can try this on a corn tortilla, but just be extra careful when flipping since corn tortillas never hold up as well as flour.

Making Life Easier

Another thing that has made parenting easier recently is learning about Walmart’s online grocery pick up. It’s completely free as long as you purchase at least $30 in groceries. I was able to easily choose everything I needed and schedule a time and day for my pickup. It’s available everyday from 8am-8pm at my location (check your location to verify hours). Once I arrived at Wal-mart, I found the large orange pick-up sign and pulled into a parking spot designated for pick-up. Once there, I was able to call and say that I was there and they brought all my items out to my car for me.

For our Dairy-free baked chicken quesadillas, we use Silk Unsweetened Almondmilk. It’s both dairy-free and lactose-free and has a great wholesome taste that our whole family loves. Feeling and eating healthier doesn’t have to be hard, and Silk’s Progress to Perfection helps along the way.  We’ve always touted our “semicruchyish” journey, where we believe everyone can make small steps towards a better, healthier, more eco-friendly lifestyle and that’s just what this Silk program aims to accomplish.  That small victories are still victories. So start by swapping out your milk and you’re one step closer!

For our Wal-mart Online Grocery Pick-up we were able to get unsweetened almondmilk for our quesadilla recipe, along with dark chocolate almondmilk and Silk Vanilla Almond Dairy – Free Yogurt Alternative, which pairs great with fresh fruit on top!

0 from 0 votes
Print
Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadillas
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 

These dairy-free baked chicken quesadillas as so insanely delicious, they'll have you forgetting that you're even missing any dairy. Try out these delicious stuffed quesadillas today! 

Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4 quesadillas
Calories: 501 kcal
Author: Andrew
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Silk Unsweetened Almondmilk
  • 2 boneless chicken breasts, cubed
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp homemade taco seasoning
  • 4 10" flour tortillas
  • 2 avocados
  • 1 cup black beans
Optional Toppings
  • 1 cup corn
  • 1/2 cup red onions, diced
  • 1/2 cup salsa (or diced tomatoes)
  • 1 jalapeno, sliced thin
Instructions

  1. Soak cubed chicken in almond milk for 30 minutes. 

  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

  3. In a bowl, mix together the flour, breadcrumbs, and taco seasoning. 

  4. Drain any remaining almondmilk from the bowl after 30 minutes. Dredge the chicken cubes in the flour mixture and placed on a lightly greased baking sheet. 

  5. Baked chicken for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and reaches a temperature of 165 degrees. 

  6. Remove from oven. 

  7. Using a fork, smash the avocados until no large chunks remain. 

  8. On one tortilla, spread 1/4 of the smashed avocados across the entire tortilla. 

  9. Add 1/4 of the baked chicken and 1/4 of the beans onto one side of the tortilla. 

  10. Add any optional toppings you may want. 

  11. Fold tortilla in half. 

  12. Place tortilla in a large skillet over medium low heat. 

  13. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Or until golden brown. 

  14. Remove and repeat the process with remaining ingredients. 

  15. Serve alongside a side of salsa. 

Recipe Notes

*Nutritional facts are only estimates and do not include any optional toppings. 

Nutrition Facts
Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadillas
Amount Per Serving (1 quesadilla)
Calories 501 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 31%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 36mg 12%
Sodium 593mg 25%
Potassium 938mg 27%
Total Carbohydrates 56g 19%
Dietary Fiber 12g 48%
Sugars 3g
Protein 24g 48%
Vitamin A 4.5%
Vitamin C 13.4%
Calcium 23.3%
Iron 22.4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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